Yankee Replacement Park Delays Continue - EDC's Memory Lapses

This Thursday, the city Parks Department and Economic Development Corp. will hold a public meeting to update the community on the long-awaited replacement parks the city pledged to compensate for the new stadium.

Many in the community are frustrated at the lack of green space since the Yankees built their new stadium over the former Macombs Dam Park.

"Folks have definitely expressed frustration that the new stadium is up and we're still waiting for our parks," said Community Board 4 District Manager Jose Rodriguez.

The community has been waiting more than three years for the long-promised 22 acres of replacement parks - which the city originally said would be built by now - including Heritage Field, once the House that Ruth Built is torn down.

But replacement park plans have suffered many delays and the stadium won't be fully demolished until sometime in late spring - if by then.

"They're years behind schedule," said Geoffrey Croft, president of the NYC Park Advocates.

Croft noted the city did not even begin its search for demolition contractors until shortly before the project was set to start in fall 2008.

But while the old stadium has been empty for more than a year, the EDC maintains its demolition is going according to plan and will be completed in June.

"By no means is it late under any metric," said EDC spokesman David Lombino.